Otto Preminger Options

[iluv2viddyfilms]

Not really sure how many of you would be familar with his work. I know Holden and mark f are, and I know Silver is a big fan of the movie Laura, which I consider to be his best movie.

Any other fans of his around here? I really like his movies a lot, but in real life he seemed like a control freak and bastard. I guess that gave the man incentive, along with his Austrian accent, to play the hardass POW camp warden or commisar in the Billy Wilder movie Stalag 17.

I do think Laura is his masterpiece though. It's a really bizzare and creepy film-noir that is unlike most anything else I've seen. Reminded me a bit of Vertigo I guess. Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews, and even Vincent Price are all good in it, but I think Clifton Webb steals the show as the mysterious and eccentric Waldo Lydecker. I guess there's some homosexual undertones with the character. That scene in the beginning when he talks to Dana Andrews while bathing in the hottub is a bit off for some reason - off meaning wierd not bad. And then he really has some great moments at the end. Oh yeah and my girlfriend Judith Anderson has a small role in it too.

So who all has seen any of his movies and what do you guys think? I recommend starting with Laura, it's really great.



1. Laura - A+
2. Bonjour Tristesse - A
3. Anatomy of a Murder - A
4. Where the Sidewalk Ends - A
5. In Harm's Way - B+
6. River of No Return - B
7. Fallen Angel - C+



"Love is eternal. It has been the strongest motivation for human actions throughout history. Love is stronger than life. It reaches beyond the dark shadow of death."

[LordSlaytan]

I’ve only seen two of his films; Laura, which I like a whole lot, and Exodus, which is more ambitious than Laura, but falls a little flat. Looks like I’ve my work set out for me.

[Holden Pike]

Preminger was a legendary horror on the set, some of it apocryphal and some of it warranted. But the man made some pretty good films along the way including a couple bonafide classics, reputation be damned. I'd rate 'em...

Laura, A+
Anatomy of a Murder, A
Advise & Consent, B+
Bunny Lake is Missing, B
Where the Sidewalk Ends, B
Bonjour Tristesse, B
The Moon is Blue, B-
Fallen Angel, B-
The Cardinal, B-
In Harm's Way, B-
The Man with the Golden Arm, B-
Daisy Kenyon, B-
Exodus, C+
Carmen Jones, C+
Saint Joan, C
River of No Return, C
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, C-
Skidoo, D+

Overall Grade: B-




The R1 SE DVD of The Cardinal is a two-disc edition that includes the very good 2-hour documentary "Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker". Very thorough and insightful piece. As for The Cardinal itself, like much of his work I think it underacheives its promise, but I'd still put it comfortably in the middle of his filmography.

The Preminger flicks I own are Laura, Advise & Consent, The Cardinal and The Man with the Golden Arm on R1 DVD, Anatomy of a Murder, Where the Sidewalk Ends and Fallen Angel on R2 DVD, The Moon is Blue on LaserDisc and Bunny Lake is Missing on VHS. Laura & Anatomy of a Murder should be required viewing for absolutely everybody.

Oh, and one of the other reasons to seek out Preminger's work is that he collaborated with the great Saul Bass so often, mostly in the 1960s. On thirteen of Otto's features Bass leant his distinctive skills as the designer of the titles and posters. Saul's work with Hitch on Vertigo, North by Northwest and Psycho is better known and more celebrated, but what he did with Preminger is just as magnificent.

[MovieDan82]

Oh, and one of the other reasons to seek out Preminger's work is that he collaborated with the great Saul Bass so often, mostly in the 1960s. On thirteen of Otto's features Bass leant his distinctive skills as the designer of the titles and posters. Saul's work with Hitch on Vertigo, North by Northwest and Psycho is better known and more celebrated, but what he did with Preminger is just as magnificent.

The film work of Saul Bass.

[Sophie]

I concur with Holden's ratings of the 4 that I have seen...

Laura, A+
Anatomy of a Murder, A
Bunny Lake is Missing, B
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, C-


Laura & Anatomy of A Murder are definitely highly recommended.

[ZBF]

I've only seen Laura and Exodus, love both but I like Laura a bit more.

[mark f]

I guess I missed this in NZ. Remember to take with a grain of honest salt!

The Human Factor (1979) C
Rosebud (1975) C-
Such Good Friends (1971) C+
Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970) C+
Skidoo (1968) C
Hurry Sundown (1967) C
Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) C+
In Harm's Way (1965) C+
The Cardinal (1963) B-
Advise & Consent (1962) B-
Exodus (1960) B
Anatomy of a Murder (1959) B+
Porgy and Bess (1959) B
Bonjour Tristesse (1958) B-
Saint Joan (1957) C
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) B-
The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) B-
Carmen Jones (1954) B
River of No Return (1954) C+
The Moon Is Blue (1953) B-
Angel Face (1952) C
The 13th Letter (1951) C
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950) C+
Whirlpool (1949) C
The Fan (1949) C
That Lady in Ermine (1948) (uncredited) Since I've seen this "Lubitsch" flick, I'll rate it...B
Daisy Kenyon (1947) C
Forever Amber (1947) C+
Centennial Summer (1946) C+
Fallen Angel (1945) C
A Royal Scandal (1945) B
Laura (1944) B+
Kidnapped (1938) (uncredited) C
Danger-Love at Work (1937) C-

[iluv2viddyfilms]

I always have to put salt on your ratings mark so they don't taste so bland. JJ we can still be friends I hope.

[mark f]

Yeah, but do ya have any honest salt thereabouts?

By the way, my B- rating parallels Holden, unless I'm a lyin'muthafuck (I usually cut some slack for longetivity and chutzpah!)

[iluv2viddyfilms]

eh it's OK.

[mark f]

Don't forget that he was Mr. Freeze in the Batman TV show. Check here.

[iluv2viddyfilms]

lol yeah I had heard that. But why in the world would such an acclaimed director appear in something as Godawful as the original Batman TV show ?

must've need the work and money at that point in his career.

[mark f]

I guess "godawful" needs perspective. The show was on twice a week, and I watched it religiously. Of course, I was 10-years-old. That link will take you to ALL the villains, and there were plenty of BIG names on there.

[Holden Pike]

lol yeah I had heard that.  But why in the world would such an acclaimed director appear in something as Godawful as the original Batman TV show ?

must've need the work and money at that point in his career.

"Batman" was a camp hit show back when it originally aired, so camp it was hip. George Sanders and Eli Wallach also guested as Mr. Freeze in other episodes. I got to be in attendance when Eli spoke at a screening of The Good, the Bad & the Ugly a couple years ago, and he joked than when he heard how many millions of dollars Schwarzenegger was getting to play Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin he was a little angry that they didn't call him with an offer. His wonderful wife, actress Anne Jackson, said only two words of advice to him: "Lift weights". Then she left the room.

They got all kinds of folks to do guest spots on "Batman", not only as villains but as the various random citizens Batman & Robin would encounter on their climbs up the sides of buildings in cameos.

[mark f]

That's true, Holden. Aside from the cool music and editing (at least for somebody ten), there was always that anticipation of who would pop their head out a window. Since I was pretty "hip" on celebrities, I always got a kick out of it. It wasn't like today, where you can find out everything about everything in advance off the Net. There were real surprises back then.